Delhi High Court Restrains JNU from Admitting Students Based on Deprivation Points The Delhi High Court has issued an interim order prohibiting Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) from using deprivation points as a criterion for student admissions. The court observed that the practice of assigning deprivation points to applicants effectively alters the scores obtained in the Common University Entrance Test (CUET), thereby undermining the fairness and transparency of the admission process. The order, passed on August 17, 2026, was delivered by the court in response to a petition challenging the university’s policy of incorporating deprivation points into its admission framework. The court emphasized that such points, which are meant to account for socio-economic disadvantages, have been misinterpreted and misapplied by JNU. According to the judgment, the inclusion of deprivation points in the admission calculation distorts the original intent of the policy, which is to provide equitable opportunities to marginalized groups. The court’s directive comes amid growing concerns about the integrity of the admission process at JNU. Legal representatives of the petitioners argued that the use of deprivation points has led to inconsistencies in the evaluation of candidates, with some students benefiting disproportionately from the system. The court acknowledged these concerns and mandated that JNU suspend the implementation of the deprivation points policy until a final decision is made on the matter. The order highlights the judiciary’s role in ensuring that educational institutions adhere to principles of equity and merit.#jawaharlal_nehru_university #delhi_high_court #common_university_entrance_test #deprivation_points #jnu_admissions
